Afghanistan: British suffer four times as many casualties as Americans

British forces have suffered four times as many fatalities in Afghanistan in the past seven weeks as our American allies.

Admiral Mike Mullen, the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, confirmed that the US will increase its troop strength in AfghanistanPhoto: EPA

By Thomas Harding, Defence Correspondent, and Jon Swaine

6:22PM GMT 21 Dec 2008

Despite contributing just over 8,000 troops to the total foreign force of more than 50,000 in the country, the British have suffered 13 dead since November 1. The US has lost three soldiers from its deployment of 31,000.

The statistics show that Britain is now experiencing more than a third of all casualties in Afghanistan at a time when other Nato countries have been accused of failing to "step up to the mark" in providing combat forces.

They come as Admiral Mike Mullen, the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, confirmed that the US will increase its troop strength in the country by between 20,000 and 30,000 additional soldiers by the middle of next year.

The defence secretary John Hutton said the Government would consider "very, very carefully" any request from Barack Obama, the US President-Elect, for more troops. Mr Hutton had earlier warned that unless there is a greater contribution from Nato the alliance faces becoming obsolete.

Commanders have also criticised the lack of helicopters for the British force that means more road transport vulnerable to bombs and less predictability on operations.

Col Richard Kemp, who commanded all British forces in Afghanistan in 2004 said aside from the US, Britain had the highest number of troops deployed on combat operations.

"Helmand is probably the most dangerous place in Afghanistan and is probably the most active Taliban area," he said.

"Also the nature of British operations have since 2007 been far more offensive and aggressive. We have been less prepared to sit back instead to get out there and deal with the Taliban in their own territory. But that brings its own huge dangers and that is borne out by the fatality rate."

Canada, which has a brigade stationed in Kandahar province next to Helmand, has seen six deaths in November and December as the insurgency rages in southern Afghanistan.

The US, which currently has most forces in the east, has suffered three dead. At least 10,000 US troops will surge into the south next year.

Col Stuart Tootal, who commanded the paratroopers of Helmand Task Force in 2006, said the most intense fighting in Afghanistan was in the south.

"We need to recognise the dangerous nature of the environment but we could reduce these casualties if we had the right equipment such as helicopters and properly protected vehicles. That is a really important aspect that needs to be addressed."

Patrick Mercer, a Tory MP and former infantry commander, said "The fact remains that some of our European allies need to take more of the strain in this battle and must start using their combat forces more effectively."

Six British servicemen have been killed in four separate Taliban attacks in the past week, making 2008 the worst year for British fatalities with 48 fatalities this year compared to 42 last year and 39 in 2006.

The recent deaths included three Royal Marines blown up by a 13 year-old suicide bomber last Friday.

Nick Harvey, the Liberal Democrat defence spokesman, said Britain was bearing the brunt of the current "security deterioration".

He said: "There has to be greater burden sharing among member states. The British withdrawal from Iraq must not become a blank cheque for more troops."

In Iraq, a threat by the Baghdad parliament to refuse to extend permission for the presence of British and other non-US troops in the country beyond the end of December appeared to have been averted. MPs said that a compromise had been reached and would be put to a vote today/on Monday.